Don't Only Look With Your Eyes

This past weekend, Ed and I found a beautiful nature trail behind the Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York. While there was a lot of brown surrounding us, the sun was shining, and it was the perfect temperature for a walk. We left the college full of high school athletes and drama clubs and went on a relaxing walk in the quiet. Who knew such serenity lie only a short distance from the hustle and bustle of high school training and competitions.

Ed and I held hands (because we could), laughed, teased, and simply enjoyed a couple hours alone. I did post to Facebook a couple times to share the fun, but for the most part...it was just us and the families enjoying nature.

The first thing I noticed was this bright red bench on top of a small hill overlooking a pond. It was brilliant and jumped out at us. I started taking pictures. Ed's laughter, the precursor to "Let me guess, a blog?" I gave him my, Who me? look and started snapping away. I'll be honest, I love the look of a brightly painted park bench yet to see its brilliance in the midst of such brown gloom, reminded me of the hope and sacrifice found in Jesus. Something as simple as a bench alone on the hill reminded me of the Savior, alone on the cross. Both bearing our weight with one offering eternal rest.

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Further into our walk I noticed this large nest up in the trees. My parents said it's probably a squirrel's home. If the leaves were on the tree, I might not have seen this humble abode so high above us.

Look at the birds of the air:
they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26 ESV

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We paused for a moment to sit on the swing and absorbed the sun shining down on us. Warmth on our cheeks with a slight breeze offered hope of spring. Hope for Easter. Sunday is coming.

We rounded one of the bends to see a bright yellow flower. Okay, so it's one of those pesky weeds we're always mowing in the summer but this past weekend, they were a splash of color and hope on a rather dreary walk in the woods.

Anyone who believes in me
may come and drink!
For the Scriptures declare,
'Rivers of living water
will flow from his heart.'"
John 7:38 NLT

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And we can't forget our weather predictor, himself, taking its time across the gray stone. Once again, color captured our attention and provided hope...

Here is another illustration Jesus used:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like
a mustard seed planted in a field.
It is the smallest of all seeds,
but it becomes the largest of garden plants;
it grows into a tree, and birds
come and make nests in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31-32

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To add a little adventure, we trekked across the wooden path over the water. We didn't see anything too colorful, but the laughter and adrenaline induced by the walkway yet to have its spring repairs provided interior joy.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

What brilliance of color gives you hope in the days leading to Easter? Will you share at least one?